Kentucky-born contemporary R&B singer and rapper Bryson Tiller broke through with his 2015 debut album, T R A P S O U L, featuring the hit Don't and Grammy-nominated Exchange. He topped the charts with True to Self and earned further acclaim with subsequent albums.
Houston-bred artist Don Toliver blends hip-hop and cinematic R&B. He has collaborated with Travis Scott and Justin Bieber and released projects including Heaven or Hell, Life of a DON, Love Sick, and Hardstone Psycho.
Pi'Erre Bourne, born Jordan Timothy Jenks, is an American record producer, rapper, songwriter, and audio engineer. He gained widespread recognition in 2017 for producing the hit singles "Magnolia" by Playboi Carti and "Gummo" by 6ix9ine, while also building a successful solo career with his "The Life of Pi'erre" album series.
Miami rapper Pouya emerged from the SoundCloud underground, blending Southern rap influences with rapid-fire flows and emotional storytelling. Collaborating with Fat Nick, he released acclaimed projects like Five Five and The South Got Something to Say.
Originating from Miami, Florida, Fat Nick is a prominent artist from South Florida’s SoundCloud era. Known for his 2014 debut Tha Heart Attack and the 2017 joint project Drop Out of School with Pouya, he has released multiple bodies of work and collaborated with artists like Lil Peep and $uicideboy$.
American hitmaker Post Malone blends rap and pop with unique vocals and pained lyrics. Broke out with 2015’s quintuple-platinum “White Iverson” from Stoney, scored chart-toppers “Rockstar” and “Psycho,” and earned a Grammy nomination for Beerbongs & Bentleys.
Terror Reid, San Jose's Tanner Petulla, is Getter's hip-hop alter ego. He crafts macabre, 90s-inspired horrorcore, known for unfiltered lyrics and a distinct flow. Hits include "Uppercuts" and "SABERTOOTH". He released "MANIFESTO" and "SAMSARA," often collaborating with artists like Pouya. He also founded Shred Collective.
Rolling Loud is the world's largest hip-hop music festival, founded in 2015 by Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif. Known for its high-energy atmosphere, it showcases top-tier and emerging artists in the genre. The festival has expanded internationally, establishing itself as a premier global event for hip-hop culture.
Hailing from Dallas, Texas, rapper BigXthaPlug is known for raw lyrics and hard-hitting tracks like Texas, Whip It, Levels, and Mmhmm. He blends Southern rap traditions with modern hip-hop and has collaborated with artists including Shaboozey, Offset, and NLE Choppa.
Ski Mask the Slump God is a rapper from Broward County, Florida, known for a fast, playful flow and morbid cartoonish persona. After meeting XXXTENTACION in juvenile detention, they formed groups like Members Only. He built a following on SoundCloud with millions of plays on tracks like I Like Bricks and Kate Moss, later releasing his debut mixtape YouWillRegret via Republic Records.
Born in Compton and raised in Southern California, rapper Tyga achieved multi-platinum success with hits like Rack City and the Offset collaboration Taste. He earned a Grammy nomination for his work on Chris Brown's Deuces and released hit albums including Careless World and Legendary.
Compton rapper YG is a Grammy-nominated artist who redefined West Coast hip-hop with his debut album My Krazy Life and hits like Toot It and Boot It. He founded the 4Hunnid brand, released seven studio albums, and collaborated with Nipsey Hussle and Drake.
Chicago-born rapper Chief Keef is an influential figure in the 2010s drill scene, known for hardcore rhymes about inner-city life. He rose to fame with his street single I Don't Like and released his debut album, Finally Rich, in 2012. He is a prolific artist with a vast catalog of mixtapes and albums.
South Los Angeles rapper and independent artist Zoe Osama runs his own label, Tha New Cartel, and distributes projects like From The Eastside With Love via EMPIRE. He is best known for his hit track Underrated, which has generated over 100 million views and streams.
Cash Cobain, born Cashmere Lavon Small in the Bronx, New York City, is a rapper and producer. He pioneered "sexy drill" and "sample drill," blending traditional drill with R&B samples and a Jersey club bounce. Known for his unique production tag, he has popular songs like "Fisherrr," "Hoes Be Mad," and "Rump Punch." His debut album, "Play Cash Cobain," released in 2024, features collaborations with artists including Ice Spice, Drake, Don Toliver, and Justin Bieber. He earned a spot on the XXL Freshman list.
Houston rapper KenTheMan delivers frank, humorous rhymes about sex and relationships. Known for her aggressive ego and viral hits like He Be Like and Not My N-gga, she released her debut mixtape Kenny's Back in 2015, followed by 4 da 304's and What's My Name.
New Orleans rapper Rob49 draws on his life experiences to create vivid street rap. Emerging in 2020, he released multiple mixtapes before issuing albums like Welcome to Vulture Island and his charting debut, Let Me Fly. He has collaborated with Lil Wayne and Cardi B.
Mike Sherm, a West Coast hip-hop artist from Antioch, California, is known for his unfiltered lyrics and raw storytelling reflecting Bay Area life. He gained recognition through platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube. His discography includes popular tracks like "A*****e" and "Baby," and he has collaborated with artists such as SOB X RBE and Fenix Flexin. His music features a unique flow and real-life experiences.
Hailing from Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood, rapper Mozzy reached the mainstream after appearing on the 2018 Grammy-nominated Black Panther soundtrack. A prolific EMPIRE artist, he released several celebrated albums, collaborative projects, and the album Beyond Bulletproof.
Bay City, Texas rapper That Mexican OT broke out in 2023 with the RIAA gold-certified hit Johnny Dang featuring Paul Wall. Known for slow-moving, haunting Texas rap on albums like Lonestar Luchador and the mixtape Texas Technician, he has collaborated with Moneybagg Yo and Slim Thug.
L.A. rapper 03 Greedo, born Jason Jamal Jackson, rose to prominence through a prolific run of mixtapes including Purple Summer and his 2018 debut studio album God Level. Despite a prison sentence for drug trafficking, he continued releasing a steady stream of collaborative projects and solo material.
St. Louis rapper Sexyy Red broke through with her 2023 viral single Pound Town and the Nicki Minaj-featured remix. Influenced by 2000s Southern rap, she has released mixtapes like Hood Hottest Princess and collaborated with Drake, Bruno Mars, and Gucci Mane.
Amari Middleton, known as OsamaSon, is an American rapper, songwriter, and producer from South Carolina and Ohio. He gained recognition for his experimental "maximalist rage" sound, blending hip-hop, trap, and heavy synths. Popular songs include "Cts-V" and "Kills". His albums Jump Out and Psykotic charted on the Billboard 200. He has collaborated with artists like Glokk40Spaz and Nettspend.
Platinum rapper 310babii: back-to-back #1s “soak city” & “rock your hips”; 500M+ streams; BET & iHeart noms; collab/samples James Brown.
Born in San Francisco, raised in Atlanta, Larry June's rap blends West Coast grit with Southern smoothness. Notable works include Keep Going with Harry Fraud and The Great Escape with the Alchemist. Collaborated with Cardo, 2 Chainz, and Slum Village; known for charting hits like Spaceships on the Blade. His mixtape-heavy career spans from self-releases to Billboard success with Life Is Beautiful.
Atlanta native singer-songwriter and musician Summer Walker delivers raw, soulful R&B with moody piano and guitar, helping shape her production. Her sound draws influence from Amy Winehouse, Erykah Badu, and Jimi Hendrix.
Memphis-born NLE Choppa, famous for the Platinum hit "Shotta Flow," has amassed over 5.5 billion streams and 14 RIAA plaques. Known for his intense rap style, he maintains control with Warner Records and his label, No Love Entertainment. Celebrated by Billboard and GQ, he's lauded for songs about overcoming struggles and celebrating wins.
Kxllswxtch is an Orange County-born artist who relocated to South Florida after connecting with producers like Flexatelli and Pouya. Known for his versatile catalog, he released his debut album KILL! in 2020, featuring the song EXORCIST, and followed it with 2021s DISORDER, which included the hit WASTE.
Milwaukee rapper DC THE DON blends trap, breakbeats, synth-pop & ’90s R&B; broke out with “Everything 1k,” built cult “DC Fridays,” XXL Freshman; hit “GET NAKED.”
Xavier Wulf is an American rapper and songwriter from Memphis, Tennessee. He began his career in the early 2010s under the name Ethelwulf as a member of the underground hip-hop collective Raider Klan before launching a successful independent solo career and founding Hollow Squad.
Eddy Baker, from California, is a trailblazer in underground rap, known for his unique style blending phonk, love songs, and G-Funk. A former Raider Klan member, he helped form SESHOLLOWATERBOYZ, becoming an influential figure in the 2010s. As CEO of Healthy Boyz, Baker collaborates with Chilly Sosa and others, infusing a SoCal vibe into his cross-regional, timeless music.
Dutch future-house DJ/producer Don Diablo: 1B+ streams (FORΞVΞR), DJ Mag Top 15 10+ yrs; HEXAGON label/radio; collabs Bieber, Dua Lipa, Coldplay; Art Basel/Sotheby’s.
Atlanta’s Future (Nayvadius Wilburn) is a chart-topping melodic mumble rap star; broke with “Racks,” “Mask Off.” Platinum DS2; Drake/Weeknd collabs; Grammy “King’s Dead.”
BlueBucksClan, formed by DJ and Jeeezy from South L.A., drive L.A.'s rap scene with hypnotic beats. Known for singles like "Todd Gurley," they bring hood stories to life, blending street rap with luxury. Signed to Out The Blue Records, their music is marked by bass-heavy production.
St. Louis-raised, Atlanta-based producer Metro Boomin is known for a street-oriented hip-hop sound and major hits like "Bad and Boujee" and "Jumpman." His Billboard 200 No. 1 albums include Not All Heroes Wear Capes and Heroes & Villains.
Jordan Ward, from St. Louis, Missouri, is an American R&B, hip hop, and soul artist. A former professional dancer for artists including Beyoncé, he transitioned to music. His acclaimed debut album, "FORWARD" (2023), and sophomore album, "BACKWARD" (2026), showcase his genre-blending style. He earned an NAACP Image Award nomination and is known for songs like "White Crocs" and "FAMJAM4000."
Lay Bankz, from Philadelphia, blends club, Hip-Hop, and R&B with dynamic dance. Influenced by legends, she's a TikTok sensation with 3.8M followers and 135M likes.
Compton rapper Wallie the Sensei blends warm melodies with gritty, gut-wrenching street storytelling; breakout “Scandalous” earned L.A. Leakers/Nick Cannon nods + Power 106.1 rotation.
Luh Tyler is a Tallahassee, FL rapper known for bouncy anthems, wavy flow, and switching between a laidback cadence and airy high register. He broke through with “Jayda Wayda” and “Law & Order,” and released “Back Flippin” in 2022.
Born Sean Anderson in California and raised in Detroit, Big Sean is a Detroit rapper signed to Kanye West’s GOOD Music. He broke through with Finally Famous (2011) and hit No. 1 with Dark Sky Paradise, I Decided and Detroit 2.
Originally from Sudan, artist Hoosh mixes Hip-Hop, R&B, and Soul with acoustic touches. Known for "Better Days," his music has hit major playlists and garnered 9 million streams globally.
Born in Whittier, CA, Atlanta-based brothers Rae Sremmurd make chart-topping trap anthems: “No Flex Zone,” “No Type,” viral #1 “Black Beatles”; collabs Mike WiLL, Gucci Mane.
New Orleans-bred punk-rap/hip-hop cousins $crim (Scott Arcenaux Jr.) and Ruby da Cherry (Aristos Petrou) blend Southern flows with punk intensity. Earned RIAA platinum “…And To Those I Love…” and multiple gold singles; 15B+ streams.
Wilmington rapper Sukihana blends bold, authentic hip-hop with a vibrant style. Inspired by Tupac and Lauryn Hill, she’s praised by Cardi B and shines with 1.3M Instagram fans.
Dom Corleo, born Dominic Anthony Paoletti in Fremont, California, is an American rapper known for his evolving hip-hop and trap style. He gained recognition with his debut album "Forgive Me For My Sins" and popular songs like "Penthouse Shordy" and "Ginseng". His collaborations include artists such as SoFaygo and Veeze. Corleo is recognized for pushing genre boundaries and cultivating a dedicated fanbase.
Born in Trinidad, rapper Nicki Minaj, known for hits like "Super Bass" and "Anaconda," mixes sharp lyricism with unique delivery. Rising from MySpace to global fame, she's won multiple charts & awards, collaborated with Kanye, Ariana Grande, and more.
Dallas-born rapper BashfortheWorld delivers street-ready hip-hop with smooth melodies and unsparing lyrics. Known for his unique bilingual Southern rap style, he gained acclaim with albums like "Mundo" and "Migo in America," featuring popular tracks such as "MVP" and "Darkest Before Dawn." His evolving sound and collaborations define his artistry.
Florida rapper Robb Bank$ (born Richard Burrell in New York) gained fame with his dark, edgy style on mixtapes like Calendars and Year of the Savage. Known for aggressive lyrics, he’s collaborated with XXXTentacion, Chief Keef, and wifisfuneral.
Atlanta-born Chase Shakur fuses hip-hop, funk, soul, pop, and R&B, aiming to transform the R&B genre. Known for "it's not you, it's me" and "It'll Be Fine", he showcases vulnerability and resilience, crafting music with the Forever N September collective.
Rich Amiri, inspired by Atlanta legends like Future and Young Thug, is a rising Hip-Hop artist known for his unique flow and dynamic style, making waves in the underground scene.
An American singer, songwriter, and rapper from Washington, D.C., known for blending motion-heavy electronic production and hyperpop with catchy vocal hooks that fuse contemporary R&B, pop, and rap styles.
